[Downrange]

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkpowder /img/forum/go_quote.gif Congrats! You must post detailed, high resolution pictures of the outside and the inside! We want to be able to see the camera reflection on the gold traces!

Gladly. It should be here sometime in late April/early May. Looking forward to running a detailed comparo with the tube SRM-007tII.

 

[milkpowder]

Now that would be interesting seeing oo7tII vs KGSS fight to the finish especially because they cost within a couple hundred bucks of each other.

Just one question: Your 007tII is an international version according to Bluetin. Does it have a 110/240V switch?

Direct quote from Bluetin.com:
Quote:

4040A or 4040II SRS-4040A is the Japan version where the driver unit runs on 90-110v, compatible with North America and other 110-120v countries. A voltage converter is provided for use in 240-230v countries. SRS-4040II is the International version, with the driver unit running on 120-240v. We dont have this version.

 

[Downrange]

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkpowder /img/forum/go_quote.gif Now that would be interesting seeing oo7tII vs KGSS fight to the finish especially because they cost within a couple hundred bucks of each other. Just one question: Your 007tII is an international version according to Bluetin. Does it have a 110/240V switch? Direct quote from Bluetin.com:

Just so. I'm really very happy with the 007tII, but I keep hearing so much about how the higher swing voltage on the KGSS "brings the OIIs alive." I want to see for myself. I've already satisfied myself that the SRD-7Pro with good amps can't keep up with tthe 007t, something I was also wondering about. I will probably sell the loser of the battle of the amps, and maybe even upgrade to a Blue Hawaii, eventually.
The SRM-007tII I have is a U.S. model, fully warranted, from Elusive Audio, though, so can't speak to switching in the PS. I'm pretty sure they require some re-soldering of the power transformer leads to convert to other voltages. But I haven't even had the covers off yet.

What is bluetin?

 

[abs@nilenet.com]

I have a KGSS DX that I could take pics of for you if you want. Although it is in a different form factor than the standard KGSS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkpowder /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks humanflyz. Does anyone actually have a HeadAmp KGSS? I read sometime ago that Justin has made some improvements. The innards no longer look the same as the ones on the HeadAmp site. Can someone please take some pictures? Pretty please?

Happy Listening!

 

[milkpowder]

Pictures please! I'd love to see what the inside looks in a modern KGSS. Does Justin still make the DX version of the KGSS? What's different about it? General price range? I'm not going to bug Justin about it because I'm not going to be getting one any time soon.

 

[abs@nilenet.com]

Allright give me a few days to get those pics for you. I am pretty sure that he still makes the DX. My DX is a KGSS as maxed as it can be and includes a huge toroidal, different chassis, 4 huge black gate caps, 3 inputs including one balanced, silver wiring, 2 stax jacks and one HE90 jack, Dual Gold Point ladder-type stepped attenuators, upgraded components (resistors and such), and other stuff I probably am not mentioning. I am not sure on the price on them as I traded for mine but I estimate around 3kish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkpowder /img/forum/go_quote.gif Pictures please! I'd love to see what the inside looks in a modern KGSS. Does Justin still make the DX version of the KGSS? What's different about it? General price range? I'm not going to bug Justin about it because I'm not going to be getting one any time soon.

Happy Listening!

 

[Veniogenesis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downrange /img/forum/go_quote.gif What is bluetin?

Bluetin is an seller of headphones and other audio gear based in Singapore. They sell internationally, and is one of the few stores that sell Japanese-versions of Audio-Technica and Stax gear.

On a side note, since Audio-Technica does not sell their high end headphones outside of the Japan, a third-party service or international importer/seller such as Bluetin and Audio-Cubes are the only ways to acquire such cans.

 

[Carl]

Blutack seems to have tamed my SC4070s somewhat. I's interesting how little changes can make big differences in sound.

 

[derekbmn]

KGSS DX

 

[derekbmn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downrange /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've already satisfied myself that the SRD-7Pro with good amps can't keep up with tthe 007t, something I was also wondering about.

How many amps have you tried now ? I'm telling ya pure Class A is the way to go, and Pass Labs in particular. They run hot as hell and sound hot too.

 

[Carl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by derekbmn /img/forum/go_quote.gif How many amps have you tried now ? I'm telling ya pure Class A is the way to go, and Pass Labs in particular. They run hot as hell and sound hot too.

Well the 007t is class A too...

 

[derekbmn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well the 007t is class A too...

And so is the 313...

With Class AB amps (to the transformers) I experienced the same things he disliked - A lack of dynamic range , and less air surrounding vocals and instruments. The same can be said with SS preamps in the chain.

 

[spritzer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericj /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yeah, personally I'm gonna wait until i have 'stats that are worth plugging into a stax amp before i go hooking things up to stax amps. I've got all of $40 in these *after shipping.

Last time I opened the phones up I retraced the circuit in the cups and it is the normal Koss mess. Koss was one of those firms that tried to improve the electrostatic concept with some odd ideas like stacking driveunits.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericj /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm not talking about doing films all the way through, but the newer monolythic ceramic formulations are faster, lower leakage, etc. The cost difference between using run of the mill discs like are in there already and upscale MLCCs should be on the order of about $5.

For 5$ I'd go for it. It's a lot of fun to restore these things. It looks like I'll be getting a defective set of Marantz stats' to restore soon

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericj /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yeah, it's chock full of 1n4007's, and i do understand that even the 1n4007 has come a long way in 30 years. I have a bevy of BYV95C controlled-avalanche rectifiers but they have a max repetitive reverse voltage of 600v, may not be enough. Maybe it'll be enough to use current production 1n4007's.

Stick with 1Kv to be safe. Because I don't know the bias I can't guess the maximum drive voltage

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericj /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've been pondering the question of self-bias vs. external bias power, and i'm going to have to spend some time tracing out part of that circuit. At the very least i need to figure out hot vs. neutral vs. earth on the existing cord. That reminds me, I need to stop by home depot on the way home and get a three-prong AC plug.

Self bias is connected to the secondaries of the audio transformers and should be the same as mains powered bias. I don't know why the self -bias is lower then the mains because this isn't the case with Stax gear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericj /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ah. Well, perhaps i will cannibalize my existing connector, clean it up with deoxit, and run five loose 22awg teflon insulated wires through a loose jacket. Sounds like it oughta do the job as long as i have appropriate strain relief on both end. This would be the cheap way to do it, I just have to pull stuff out of my own parts piles.

That will work. You can get the plug from Allied Elec. and it is the exact same part.

 

[Downrange]

Quote:

Originally Posted by derekbmn /img/forum/go_quote.gif How many amps have you tried now ? I'm telling ya pure Class A is the way to go, and Pass Labs in particular. They run hot as hell and sound hot too.

It's not the amps - it's the transformer process that's killing the detail on the sound. Silk purse/sow's ear.

Dynamite pix on the DX, thanks!

 

[milkpowder]

Quote:

Originally Posted by derekbmn /img/forum/go_quote.gif KGSS DX

The design looks quite vintage. The PS caps are massive too. "I like!" (Borat impression)